Wynton Marsalis

Wynton Marsalis (born 18 October 1961) is an American trumpeter and composer. He is among the most prominent jazz musicians of the modern era, as well as a well known African American instrumentalist in classical music.

The first jazz musician was a trumpeter, Buddy Bolden, and the last will be a trumpeter, the archangel Gabriel. [1]

I had a trumpet, but I didn't want to be a trumpet player. I wanted to be some type of athlete or in some type of scholarly activity, be a chemist or something—I had my little chemistry set, and I like playing with it.

Flexibility is an essential part of Jazz. It's what gives Jazz music the ability to combine with all other types of music and not lose its identity.

I think that virtuosity is the first sign of morality in a musician. It means you're serious enough to practice.

The reason why the music is important is because it's an art form—an ancient art form—that takes in the mythology of our people.

Some stances are just conducive to swinging. If I stand up straight for too long it's harder to swing. Plus my feet hurt. [2]

(about rap and hip hop) They take your drawers off for you, they show your ass, they sell bullshit, they call themselves 'niggaz' and the women 'bitches' and 'hos' and it's fine with everybody. That's what the essence of decadence is. [3]